Artists spring clean with garage sale

First-time event at Box Factory for the Arts.

ST. JOSEPH -- Patrick Shehan plans to become a commercial artist after high school.

And the 15-year-old was looking ahead when he bought a leather portfolio case for $10 on Saturday during the Artists' Garage Sale at the Box Factory for the Arts in St. Joseph.

"I found this and it was on my list for what I was looking for. I will use it once I'm out of high school," Shehan said.

"I was told this (the portfolio) has been used by three generations. I know they would be more expensive in the store and it's leather, too."

This is the first time the studio has held a garage sale, said Sherrie Styx, sale organizer and a studio artist.

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"We grabbed the idea from Kalamazoo and it's going really cool. A lot of people have never been here before which is the benefit," Styx said. "We're cleaning and people are taking treasures home that they like."

Shoppers found some treasures to take home, like art supplies and inspirational art books.

"It's been fantastic," she said, smiling.

There were all kinds of cool stuff for visitors and studio artists to buy at garage sale prices.

Assorted art brushes were priced at $1, a box of acrylic paints had 10 cents written on it,

Wanna visit?Box Factory for the Arts, a multi-use arts center, includes artist studios, galleries, a performance stage, classrooms, Art Shoppe, meeting space and more.Admission is free and open to the public: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. It is located at 1101 Broad St., St. Joseph. For more information, call 269-983-3688.

an oil painting set was $10, and glass for palettes went for $1 to $2 a piece.

A table piled high with pieces of fake fur and already cut pieces to make teddy bears went for 25 cents a hunk, according to the sign taped to the table.

"My cats are going to love those and they are so soft," Linda Hyde, of St. Joseph, said, rubbing the fake fur with her hand.

Another table with assorted yarn sold for 50 cents a bag and Hyde picked up several bags for herself.

"I don't do anything with yarn but the colors are so beautiful and yarn is so expensive. I might take up a hobby with yarn or something," Hyde said.

"I think we're done," Hyde said to her friend Diana Frey, of Columbus, Ohio, who was visiting for the weekend.

"I got some pottery and a watercolor of flowers for $5 and I might have to decorate a room around it," Frey said, smiling.

The friends said they have been to musical events at the Box Factory for the Arts and liked the idea of the garage sale concept.

"I love it and the prices are crazy low," Hyde added.

On the upper floor of the two-story building, Meredith Schmidt sat behind tables with items from her studio, Atelier M.

She works with oil, acrylic, and watercolor for her art media.

"I've done very, very well and our prices are extremely low. It's a little bit of everything, mostly art. We want people to come in and enjoy," Schmidt said.

"The weather is gorgeous and people start thinking of garage sales. It's the first one and it will only get better."